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And once common garden species such as the V-moth, garden tiger and spinach moths had seen numbers fall by more than 90 per cent in the 40-year period and were now at risk of extinction, the State of Britain's Larger Moths 2013 report warned.

Across all moths - both 'micro-moths' and larger species or 'macro-moths' - some 62 species became extinct in the 20th century, Butterfly Conservation said.

Beautiful, but vanishing fast: Garden Tiger Moths were once common but have declined more than 90 per cent

Next to go? Numbers of the the V moth, left, and spinach moth, right, also plummeted more than 90 per cent. The report found that the V moth had declined by as much as 99 per cent

Total numbers of moths have fallen 40 per cent in southern Britain but stayed stable in the north, with declines in some species balanced out by other moths faring well, the report said.

The difference between north and south is likely to be down to greater loss of habitat in southern Britain and beneficial impacts of climate change for some species in the north.

On a species by species basis, populations have declined on average by 43 per cent in the south and 11 per cent in the north.

Going: Numbers of the Garden Dart have fallen 98 per cent over the past 40 years, said Butterfly Conservation

Waning: The Double Dart, which has also declined by 98 per cent, according to the conservation charity

The Dusky Thorn moth, left, has declined by 98 per cent, while the Hedge Rustic, right, is down 97 per cent

However, the report also found that while
native species have declined significantly, there has been an influx in
new moth species to Britain.

This was thought to be the consequence of warmer conditions making the country suitable for continental species.

More
than 100 species have been recorded in the UK for the first time this
century and 27 species have colonised Britain since 2000.

MOTH SPECIES ON THE RISE

Least Carpet Idaea rusticata - 74,684 per cent increase

Blair’s Shoulder-knot Lithophane leautieri - 7,878 per cent increase

Treble Brown Spot Idaea trigeminata - 4,312 per cent increase

Buff Footman Eilema depressa - 3,884 per cent increase

Scarce Footman Eilema complana - 3,590 per cent increase

MOTH SPECIES IN DECLINE

V-moth Macaria wauaria - 99 per cent decrease

Garden Dart Euxoa nigricans - 98 per cent decrease

Double Dart Graphiphora augur - 98 per cent decrease

Dusky Thorn Ennomos fuscantaria - 98 per cent decrease

Hedge Rustic Tholera cespitis - 97 per cent decrease

Conservation experts warn the dire
straits larger moths are in point to a much wider decline in insect
species including bees, beetles and flies, which could have a knock-on
effect for a wide range of wildlife from birds to mammals.

Humans also rely on insects, such as pollinators which help provide many of the foods people eat.

'Much has been made of the decline of
butterflies and honey bees but moths represent the massive but largely
unnoticed diversity of insects that form the vast majority of animal
life in Britain'

Richard Fox, surveys manager at Butterfly Conservation

Richard Fox, surveys manager at Butterfly Conservation and lead author of the report, said: 'This report paints a bleak picture about Britain's biodiversity.

'Much has been made of the decline of butterflies and honey bees but moths represent the massive but largely unnoticed diversity of insects that form the vast majority of animal life in Britain.

'The severed declines of once common moths and overall decrease in moth abundance that we found are a damning indictment of how recent human activity has devastated our native wildlife.'

Population explosion: Numbers of Least Carpet moths have increased a staggering 74,684 per cent

With around 1,000 species in the UK,
he said: 'Larger moths are representative of that huge wealth of insect
life that is out there, which is absolutely crucial for keeping the
natural world going and all of the benefits that humans need from the
natural world.'

Mr Fox said
the removal of hedgerows and flower-rich margins to make bigger fields
and the increasing use of pesticides and inorganic fertilisers all had
an impact on moths, particularly in southern Britain where
intensification of farming has been greatest.

Climate
change appears to be having a positive effect on some species, allowing
some southern moths to spread north, but negative impacts on other
moths.

For example, the
garden tiger moth, which has undergone a 92 per cent fall in numbers
over the 40-year period studied, is adversely affected by warmer winters
and wetter springs which are becoming more common as the climate
changes.

Invader: Blair's Shoulder-knot was the second-most successful moth species over the past 40 years, showing a 7,878 per cent increase. Twenty-seven species have colonised Britain since 2000

TV wildlife presenter and Butterfly Conservation vice-president Chris Packham said: 'Larger moths are key indicator species that let us know how our environment is faring in a period of unprecedented environmental change.

'As well as being important pollinators, moths are an absolutely vital cog in the food change for other species such as birds and bats.

'The dramatic and ongoing loss of moth abundance highlighted in this report signals a potentially catastrophic loss of biodiversity in the British countryside.'